Foreclosure Activity Declined Last Year

Irvine, CA, Jan. 17, 2013 -- Fewer homes in the U.S. were repossessed in 2012 than a year earlier, according to tracking firm RealtyTrac.

Banks repossessed 671,251 homes last year, down nearly 17% from 804,423 the year before.

The trend, along with an annual decline in overall foreclosure activity, may signal that foreclosure problems are easing on a national level.

However, half the states reported increased foreclosure activity in 2012 and many are expected to continue seeing increases this year, RealtyTrac said.

All foreclosure related activity fell 3% last year.